I don’t hate the things I do this time of year. I don’t hate seeing family and friends. I don’t hate hosting the big family gathering and dinner between Christmas and New Year’s, though I admit the cleaning the house ahead of time is tedious. I really like seeing family and friends and feeding them and drinking with them.

My mom died early in December. Not long after Thanksgiving. This was her time of year. I like feeding people, and I got it from her. And with everything I do, every gathering I attend, every meal I host, she is no longer there.

I have no holiday spirit. I love my friends and family. I love hosting and feeding them. But I could have just as much fun doing it in May.

We Hunted The Mammoth is web site I read. It’s devoted to mocking things anti-feminists and other so-called “Men’s Rights Activists” and “Pick Up Artists” put online for anyone to see. Some of it is ridiculous, most of it is horrendous, all of it is wrong in one way or another.